Autumn Souvenir

? , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

Note - due to potential bias, companies that employed me are ineligible. Any run-of-the-mill music fan knows that there's an absolute plethora of online sites for reviews, streaming, purchasing, and so forth. There's so much that it's nearly impossible for many to streamline the good from the not so good. And as anyone in Silicon Valley knows, the past decade has seen many a start-up come and go. And many are still trying to make a mark right now. In time, more will fall, some will rise, others will plod along and a few will find sustainability over time. I am not basing my favorites on their business models, but rather on what they offer music fans. Instead of breaking my selections into categories (e.g. purchasing, streaming, reviews, blogs), I decided to just go with the five that I visit most and those that have built tools and staffs that understand the way lovers of music feel about an artform that changes and impacts our lives. #5 All Music Guide Allmusic is chock f...

New Pets , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon .

In the three years that I've been writing on this blog, I don't think I've taken the time to thank those of you who visit and read what I have to say. That said, not a post goes up without acknowledging that some folks actually find interest in what I have to say. I've received many e-mails and texts regarding something I wrote about, a video I posted or a few pictures I shared. And every single time I remain amazed that people, whether friends or strangers, have taken an interest in, well, things that interest me. I write on this blog solely out of passion for the things that influence my life. Music and politics clearly take the forefront, but I also try and share anything that may move me both negatively and positively each day. There are many times that I'll be on the bus, in the park, at dinner or in the car when an idea pops in my head. Maybe I'm listening to NPR, reading the NY Times, listening to Bob Dylan or talking about the economy or the environment ...

He's certainly had his share of monikers, including Palace, Palace Brothers, Palace Music, Will Oldham, and most prominently, Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Whatever his name of choice, it's always Oldham. And in 15 or so years, he has produced some of the best music of our time. The Essential Will Oldham Lion Lair Big Friday New Partner Death To Everyone Wolf Among Wolves Easy Does It Strange Form of Life Work Hard/Play Hard A Minor Place Hard Life Antagonism Love Comes To Me Arise, Therefore Missing One I See a Darkness A King at Night The Way

No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July, Stories, 2008: 8.3

The Essential R.E.M. Gardening at Night (Don't Go Back To) Rockville Disturbance at the Heron House Talk About the Passion The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Green Grow the Rushes Fall on Me Losing My Religion Crazy Cuyahoga So. Central Rain Nightswimming Driver 8 Pale Blue Eyes I Believe Shaking Through Near Wild Heaven

Not a word from Knight since 1999 or so. This tune remains one of my favorite songs of the late 90s.

The Possibilities @ The Baggot Inn, NYC 10.26.02 , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon . I listened to Athens, Georgia native The Possibilities' 1999 debut this afternoon. Following their 2002 follow-up, Way Out! , this virtually unknown band were no more. Fortunately, I was able to catch them at a downtown New York City bar in October of 2002. There were about 20 other people in the room, but man did they put on a great set.

As a number of the premiere music magazines fall by the wayside, and the bigger, corporate mags attempt to reinvent themselves and remain relevant, Magnet Magazine, after 15 years, remains the most all-encompassing and knowledgeable music resource out there. There are certainly some great bloggers and online resources that have challenged Magnet, but most are either lacking in diversity or far too predictable and/or pretentious. I first started reading Magnet over ten years ago. I recall great features on Elliott Smith, Guided By Voices and Wilco. I can think of hundreds of records that found their way onto my racks due to Magnet. And perhaps more influential than anything, the photographs. I can't think of another resource that has so beautifully and appropriately captured most of the best artists making music over the past decade and a half. Yesterday brought the arrival of the Magnet 15th Anniversary Issue. Nick Cave graces the cover and inside are features on the Philly music s...

Kiran , originally uploaded by ccsbandwagon . Our little pal Kiran visits the day after Christmas.

Throughout the year, I have chosen one record per week, primarily based upon what I'd listened to most during the previous week. My hope is that a few mentions have led you to return to a record or to pick up something new. On Tuesday, I will post my final Album of the Week for the year. Instead of choosing what I'd listened to most this final week, I will select the album that had the most impact on me in 2008. I'm 90% certain of what that record will be. If you have an idea, given my posts throughout the year or some conversation we've had, feel free to take a guess. I will only say this: This album is as timeless as it was timely in 2008. Low : Christmas Kranky, 1999 Conor Oberst : Conor Oberst Merge, 2008

Market Street, San Francisco December 24, 2008

Of all the great music, books and trips, nothing from 2008 can compare to the joy I felt at this moment. I have chills from head-to-toe every single time I watch any clips from that night.

Gus Van Sant has never had a keen ability to direct movies for a large audience. The one blatant attempt was 2000's Finding Forester , a film so devoid of nuance that it would've fit perfectly as a late-80's after-school special. But when he sticks to his art, Van Sant has the directorial eye and vision of one of the best of our time. Films such as Drugstore Cowboy, To Die For, My Own Private Idaho and Paranoid Park are stellar works of filmmaking. And the one film that far exceeded its expectations, Good Will Hunting , is a wonderful movie that brought Van Sant to the masses. This year's Milk seemed to be new territory for Van Sant. Despite remaining true to form and taking on a topic with depth and importance, the movie enlisted top Hollywood actors and appeared to be geared towards a large audience. But unlike Finding Forester , Van Sant held onto his trademarks and oversaw a movie that stands with his best. Gone is the quirky and unique camerawork evidenced in Pa...

Some of Springsteen's actions of late are really starting to wear on me. Bruce is likely my biggest musical hero and it's been the way he carries himself and manages his career that's always been all the more reason to admire him. I first heard his music when I was still in a crib, and his music has played an enormous role in the way I see this country, and the world. He's always been very reluctant to license his songs for advertisements. He's been very selective in the licensing of his songs for films or television, usually opting to only work with directors/actors whom he respects. And he's stood up for causes in the face of very harsh audiences. (Recall the NYC Cops's reaction to "41 Shots".) But things seem to have changed for Bruce in the past few years. First came the wildly overproduced Magic , then the move to play at the, gulp, Super Bowl. And now, in perhaps the most outrageous and contradictory move to date, Billboard is reporting that...

Rock n' Roll...

This isn't 100% accurate since I listened to a lot of vinyl, CDs and tunes in my car. But of the music that I listened to via my computer and ipod (probably about 70%), here's the list of top 50 artists I listened to this year (along with number of plays). I was going to wait until 1/1/09 to make it an entire year, but hell, I've got egg nog to brew up. 1 Bonnie "Prince" Billy 850 2 Bruce Springsteen 827 3 Neil Young 578 4 Bob Dylan 574 5 Wilco 547 6 Okkervil River 474 7 Centro-matic 446 8 Tim Easton 408 9 Josh Rouse 400 10 Old 97's 376 11 Richard Buckner 339 11 The Kinks 339 13 Damien Jurado 336 14 Eels 304 15 Josh Ritter 290 16 NIck Drake 289 17 M. Ward 283 18 Beck 282 19 Aimee Mann 228 20 Matthew Ryan 218 21 Thao 215 22 Uncle Tupelo 202 23 Blue Mountain 201 24 Son Volt 191 25 South San Gabriel 180 26 The Rolling Stones 178 26 REM 178 28 Sam Cooke 170 29 The Jayhawks 167 30 Jens Lekman 165 30 The Gourds 165 32 The Go-Betweens 151 33 Jay Farrar 141 34 Teenage...

Since I only saw a few films actually released in 08, let's just go with the best movies I saw this year, regardless of release date: 10 William Eggleston in the Real World (2005) 9 The Savages (2007) 8 Paranoid Park (2007) 7 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) 6 Taxi to the Dark Side (2007) 5 Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) 4 Street Fight (2005) 3 Born Into Brothels (2004) 2 The Big Bad Swim (2006) 1 Deep Water (2006) I do plan on venturing out to the cinema in the next few weeks. I plan on seeing: The Wrestler, Revolutionary Road, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Class.

"He filled it with another centimeter, probably."

Many of the most lasting moments or events can't be qualified or quantified, but rather just elicit some feeling or feelings. Here are some from the year 2008: The election of Barack Obama. This is the greatest political achievement of my lifetime. Almost two months out, the shock and pride hasn't worn off one bit. Every time I watch Barack's weekend YouTube videos I get chills. Simply amazing. The feel at the Bonnie "Prince" Billy show in Big Sur. It wasn't just the music. The entire atmosphere was simply stunning...the weather, the mountains, the people, the smells, the words, the guitars. As Billy said as he left the stage, "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful night." SXSW. This very well may have been my last. I've now been to Austin six times (99-01, 05-07) for the annual SXSW conference and this year was one of the best. The friendships that have been born in this town still amaze me. Music, friends, good food and drink and some of the greatest...

Unlike the dolt who mans the Oval Office for another 30 or so days, Barack Obama will work with the nation's leading scientists to confront some of the world's biggest threats and possibilities, including climate change and stem-cell research, respectively. When considering George Bush's legacy decades from now, despite his massive failings in nearly every area of his presidency, his inability to embrace and even lend an ear to science, may prove to be his most egregious crime. If the next few generations face a worldwide crisis around climate change, resulting in millions (billions?) of deaths, famine and displacement, George Bush's eight years as president will mark the most miserable worldwide failure on this front. With the scientific community unanimously calling for immediate action to avoid grave peril, Bush not only disregarded the warnings but instituted policies to make matters worse, much worse. It appears as if Obama and Biden will do exactly the opposite. A...

Yosemite Joshua Tree Inn Big Sur, California Roxxy in Mahwah, New Jersey Yosemite Chase & Lucy in Los Angeles Construction Site in San Francisco Election Day in San Francisco San Francisco Yosemite Emmett Kelly & Bonnie "Prince" Billy in Big Sur, California Alamo Square Park, San Francisco > Jenner, California Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Pescadero, California Port Costa, California Obama Rally in San Francisco Golden Gate Park First Snow in Yosemite Beach in San Francisco Kiran in Los Angeles

Looks like Tim is collaborating with Diane Best for a new series called "Dust Devils". The show runs from Dec 13 - Jan 3 at the Red Arrow Gallery in Joshua Tree. I don't see any of the items for sale online yet, but I'm sure they'll be up soon. If you'd rather not wait, give them a call at 760.366.2519.

Similar to many on the left (whatever "left" means), I was initially shocked to hear that Barack selected Rick Warren to preside over the invocation. But unlike many, I didn't follow that surprise with an explosive response (I know, very unlike me). Over the course of two years, there have been countless times when I wanted to pounce on Obama, but almost every time, whatever decision he made or course he charted, I ended up thinking and ultimately understanding. He's a man of immense intelligence and forethought. Knowing this, I decided to let this one play out. But I have come to a conclusion that's been rare in my living room tv/internet/paper interactions with our president-elect. My issue with the Rick Warren selection doesn't necessarily have to do with Warren's views on homosexuality and other social issues which I clearly disagree with (similar to Obama). Why I'm disappointed with this selection is Obama's move to assuage the conservative ri...

This is exactly why I never review movies and especially records right after seeing/hearing them. For example, I remember departing the theatre in 2000 after seeing "You Can Count on Me" and thinking, "It was ok, but a bit sentimental". Since 2005 or so that film has sat atop my yawner list of favorite movies ever made. In 1992, I recall listening to Springsteen's career-clunker Human Touch and thinking, "Brilliant!". You may remember the song "57 Channels". God is that record horrid. Over the past few weeks, I have spent a good amount of time with two of the records that I listed on my atrocious list. And I would now like to remove them from that list. I've heard over-and-over about the greatness of the Fleet Foxes song "White Winter Hymnal". And I must admit, I now kind of agree. And the rest of the record is growing with each listen. With four songs remaining on my eMusic a few weeks ago, I decided to download four tracks fr...

No competition:

After picking up coffee this morning and running back to my apartment to dive under the covers (brutal cold/flu), I opened up The Onion and went right to the music section. There sat two band photos, one of the band Fucked Up and the other of Los Campesinos! As is the case with 95% of grating present-day indie bands, both photos were predictably oh so cool. The Fucked Up photo is a full-band shot, all members tightly packed. One dude is holding up the female member's head, while the woman has a look of shock on her face. Then there's the predictable fat bald guy, the emo suck and well, another emo suck. Then there's Los Campesinos! (Why the !? How many times has the explanation point been used by other bands?) The band is standing in a field and they're spread equidistant while each holding some sort of bird. Flannel shirts, hip t-shirts and beards abound. This whole thing is getting beyond bearable. I guess that would make it unbearable. Why must every damn Pitchfork ...

Scott solo: The V-Roys: I caught the V-Roys live once, at Wetlands in NYC opening for God Street Wine. The entire show I stood next to Steve and Justine Townes Earle. I tried to make a little small talk with Earle but he wasn't having it. The V-Roys were absolutely amazing. I left two songs into God Street Wine's set. My days of following crap jam bands had ended as I'd been opened to the best rock n' roll of the day.

Much to my surprise, the entire first episode is streaming. I will now watch. Season 2 Online Premiere - Flight of the Conchords (US Only) - watch more funny videos

Matthew Ryan : Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State 2:59, 2008

I spend a LOT of time on eMusic scouring around for the hidden treasures. Until their recent site relaunch (which is still far from perfect), it was quite the laborious task to find the good content. I attributed this to a business model that only survives if users fail to download all their allotted tracks each month. Nevertheless, I have been on the service since December 2005 and have found many, many great records. If you're an eMusic subscriber, or perhaps given the economy, you're looking for a cheaper way to find some good records, here are my 20 favorites (in no order): Rachel's - Music For Egon Schiele Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit The Kinks - Misfits Jens Lekman - Oh You're So Silent Jens Richard Buckner - Meadow Tom Waits - The Early Years, Vol 2 Grizzly Bear - Horns of Plenty Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch Thao - We Brave Bee Stings and All The Drams - Jubilee Dive Roy Orbison - In Dreams, Greatest Hits Panda Bear - Person Pitch Okkervil River -...

Finally Dick Cheney admits that he gave the green light on torture. And to this day, he still defends tactics such as waterboarding. Remember, this is what he's admitting after seven years of silence. It's hard to imagine what else he approved. Bush, Cheney, Rice and the rest need to prosecuted for war crimes. I have turned on CNN and MSNBC numerous times today and there's been zero mention of this. The top brass at the United States government has APPROVED torture yet the media ignores it. If America remains silent on this, which I imagine we will, this is another massive dent to the side of democracy.

Former Wilco guitarist (1994-2001) and perhaps the driving force behind Wilco's sonic evolution on "Summerteeth" and "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", has quietly released his fifth full-length since departing/being ousted from the band. I have heard each of Bennett's recordings since his fall from Wilco, and 2002's collaboration with Ed Burch, The Palace at 4am , still remains the one solid top-to-bottom listen. The new record is available for free download at Rock Proper . I'm only on the third track, but this certainly sounds like a step up from his past few releases. Like many Wilco fans, despite seeing a wonderful band still at the top of its game, something's always been missing since Bennett's tenure in the band ended. And since his career outside the band has been met with little notice, I'm going to give this one some time. Whether it's good or not, his first post-Wilco effort still stands as a solid achievement. More later....

As I noted late last week, today is the first installment of Over the Wires , a new series where I find myself fortunate enough to share correspondence with musicians, folks in policy, writers, and just about anyone I think would be interesting to hear from. I first heard Matthew Ryan's music in 1998 or so. I was at a friend's apartment in Brooklyn, and before we even exchanged greetings he was raving about this new artist. We sat down, and I was introduced to the beautiful songs that make up Ryan's debut, May Day . Every song on the record resonated, but there were a few that still stand as some of the most powerful songs I've ever heard, most notably "Chrome" ("It's not the fact that you walked out, that bewilders me. It's not the sleep that I can't steal, that wires me.") and "Lights of the Commodore Barry". And although these are my favorites, as a whole, this is one of the best records of the 1990's. I've bought eve...

I've tried most playlist services, and today I figured I'd give Lala a whirl. I attempted to compile about 30 songs, but could only find about 17, which is clearly a reflection of the service. In addition, if I wanted to keep going and create additional playlists, after exhausting my free 50 tunes, I would have to pay $.10/song to simply have the right to stream said songs. This is, well, lame. Nevertheless, here are some of my favorite songs of this past year. Best of 2008

The media frenzy over the findings around Governor Blagojevich are understandable. The moves he's made are so egregious that his suitability for governorship is obviously over. We are also reminded of similar highly-publicized political downfalls this year, such as the former Governor of New York, Elliot Spitzer and former presidential-candidate John Edwards. Both were guilty of infidelity, and Spitzer's downfall included a longstanding "relationship" with a high-priced prostitute. There's little chance that this trio will receive any remorse from a public that loves to witness the powerful fall. But the actions of all three of these men pale in comparison to the atrocities thrown upon Americans and the World as a whole by President Bush. After eight years as president, the destruction he's dumped on us day-in and day-out is almost beyond comprehension. There's no need to highlight all of the mistakes but let's note just a few: -Ignoring the August 6, ...

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, Memoir, 1995: 9.0 When the year started, I set a goal of reading 26 books this year. As of last night, I'm at the midway point. With 18 days remaining in the year, I am fairly certain that I won't meet my goal. Nevertheless, I have read some great books this year. And the one I finished last night may have been the most important. Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father was published in 1995, one year before he was elected to the Illinois State Senate. This is a fantastic read on many fronts, and provides a glimpse into Obama's life and heritage, but most importantly, his intellectual curiosity. Over the course of 400+ pages, Obama's interest in his family both present and past, his neighbors, those facing hardships, the political climate and just about every aspect of daily life from the ground up is somewhat astounding. He doesn't seek out this understanding at a manic or scattered pace, and never seems to be exploring dif...

Ok, so the basic benefits such as a bi-weekly paycheck and well, health insurance coverage are gone. And yeah, the bank account's dwindling which is bringing on some mild stress, but boy does this time off educate in more ways than your average 9-6 job. And let me stress that I've been fortunate enough to have some incredibly fulfilling and inspiring jobs; I only highlight that there are areas of personal development that even the best job can't touch. One of the things I've noticed most is how much I now appreciate things that used to simply be inserted into some part of the day or month. A trip to Golden Gate park has taken on new meaning. A run through the neighborhood is no longer a task, but rather provides some stress relief and enjoyment. Since moving out on my own, I've never once bought a Christmas tree, but despite the wallet constraints, this year we picked one up and man has it provided some warmth. The morning trips to Mike's make my day, every day....